Paula Kosower is an active performer and teacher currently residing in Chicago. She frequently performs for the Chicago Philharmonic Chamber Music Series, the University of Illinois Tuesdays-at-One series, North Park University Faculty Concerts, Bach Week Festival Concerts, for events at the Music Institute of Chicago, and for live performances on WFMT 98.7. Other concert appearances include the Chicago Symphony Chamber Music Series, Chicago Chamber Musicians, Rembrandt Chamber Players, Rush Hour at St. James Cathedral, Art Institute of Chicago, Classical Mondays at Preston Bradley Hall, Mostly Music, Fourth Presbyterian Church, Music of the Baroque, Dempster St. Pro Musica, Bach Aria Society of Kansas City, Kansas City String Quartet Program and Wisconsin Public Radio FM 89.7. She has appeared on faculty recitals performing with colleagues at Roosevelt University, Northwestern University, University of Chicago, North Park University, University of Illinois at Chicago, Wheaton College, Carthage College, and UWMadison.
She enjoys contemporary music and has played consistently for the Fulcrum Point New Music Project. For many years she played for the CUBE contemporary ensemble, with performances in many Chicago venues. She has performed premieres of numerous compositions, with concerts at the Ravinia Festival, the University of Chicago, and the University of Illinois at Chicago. In addition she has played for recordings including the Brandenburg Project, featuring the music of Larry Axelrod, and for a recent recording and premiere of the composition Music for Five by Marc Mellits.
In addition to recital and chamber music performances Ms. Kosower regularly performs as a cello substitute with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. For the past three seasons, 2012-2015, she has served in the cello section for the Lyric Opera of Chicago. She has also played with the Grant Park Symphony and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.
Ms. Kosower is a faculty member at North Park University where she teaches applied undergraduate lessons, cello class ensemble, and performs with the Ensemble Nouvelle Epoque. She is also on the faculty at the University of Illinois at Chicago, teaching applied lessons and performing as a member of the faculty Circle Ensemble. She teaches cello pedagogy courses for undergraduate and graduate students at Northwestern University and DePaul University. For the Northwestern University Music Academy she maintains a full studio of precollege students. She also coaches chamber music for the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra program. For the past several years she has served as Vice President of the Chicago Cello Society, an organization promoting the art of cello playing with a variety of events in the Chicago area each season.
She earned her B.M. and M.M. degrees at Indiana University where she was a scholarship student of Janos Starker. She also served as Mr. Starker’s graduate teaching assistant. During numerous summers she attended the Aspen Music Festival where she studied with Rafael Figueroa, Eric Kim, David Finckel, Alan Harris, Michael Mermagen, and Zara Nelsova. She also attended the Steans Institute for Young Artists, participating in both the piano and strings chamber music program and the collaborative vocal chamber music program. Her studies at the Steans Institute included lessons with Gary Hoffmann, Timothy Eddy, David Geringas, and Bernard Greenhouse. She has played for masterclasses of YoYo Ma, Lynn Harrell, David Soyer, and Zara Nelsova. She completed her D.M. degree at Northwestern University where she studied with Hans Jorgen-Jensen, and during this time also served as principal cello of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.